Olde Posts Addenda (4)

 More "Breaking News" to add to the older news items already provided in Mulcahy's Miscellany. 

Excessive Drinking - OF WATER!
   Back in 2021 I questioned whether we really needed to carry a large bottle of water with us when we drove to the 7-Eleven to get a Slurpee (see "Hydration: Going Against the Current.") I don't get out much, but apparently students are still putting canteens in their backpacks and carrying large water jugs for the short distance between seminars.
   This was noticed by Frank Bruni who writes for The New York Times. When he was asked to characterize the students at Duke, where he teaches, he offered this description in his weekly newsletter. He makes the point I was trying to make in my hydration post, but he does a better job, which is why he writes for the NYT and I don't. It is really quite good and is found in the Newsletter on Nov.21, 2024:

   "What’s most remarkable about my students isn’t their wokeness or pre-professionalism. It’s their sogginess. They drink water constantly. They carry water everywhere. If the young people who fought in World War II were the Greatest Generation, the young people pursuing their bachelor’s degrees today are the Moistest one. They live on the cusp of some imagined desert, beside an oasis that’s their last call.

Sometimes I glance at the desks in a lecture hall or the big table in a seminar room and think I’m looking at an art exhibit of Exotic Cylinders. There are improbably tall, slender water vessels and squatter, wider ones, though almost all taper at the base, the better to fit into the cup holders of cars and cardio equipment. They are shiny and matte, turquoise and lavender, their provenance imprinted on them in distinctive fonts. Here a Corkcicle or an Owala, there a Stanley or a Yeti.

Those brand names are a clue that part of what I’m seeing is pure commercialism: If you build it, they will fill it with water. Canny entrepreneurs have turned the frumpy canteens of yesteryear, associated with cowboys and mountaineers, into the spiffy fashion statements of today, dangling from student knapsacks and essential for any vigorous Peloton session.

But there’s more to it than that. There are principles, politics: The refillable Hydro Flask or ThermoFlask replaces the disposable plastic receptacle and represents scrupulous stewardship of the environment. There are economics: A beloved, portable vessel with water from a tap obviates an Evian or a Dasani from the convenience store refrigerator case.

And there is self-care, an ineluctable phrase that didn’t exist — or had negligible exposure — when I attended college. My students correctly wager that health-wise, including skin-wise, hydration is best, so lugging around liquid sustenance is a kind of personal optimization. It abets peak performance. Along with a dewy complexion.

I reflect on my desiccated youth — when there were old-style water fountains rather than newfangled water stations, and I had to bend over and slurp up enough to last me several hours — and feel foolish and cheated, the improbable survivor of a parched and primitive time. I now understand why my fellow boomers and I made a mess of the world, and the generations after ours should cut us some slack. We were thirsty."

Excessive Eating - The Obesity Epidemic
  More recently in, "Weighing In" obesity was observed and proof is now offered in: "Three-Quarters of U.S. Adults Are Now Overweight or Obese: A Sweeping New Paper Revels the Dramatic Rise of Obesity Rates Nationwide Since 1990," Nina Agrawal, The New York Times, Nov. 14, 2024. Definitions are offered for the plus-sized people and I will have to check and see if I belong to that growing crowd:The paper defined “overweight” adults as those who were age 25 and over with a body mass index at or over 25, and “obese” adults as those with a B.M.I. at or over 30.
The "sweeping new paper" is found in The Lancet, "National-level and state-level prevalence of overweight and obesity among children, adolescents, and adults in the USA, 1990–2021, and forecasts up to 20," Nov. 14, 2024. "Over the past several decades, the overweight and obesity epidemic in the USA has resulted in a significant health and economic burden. Understanding current trends and future trajectories at both national and state levels is crucial for assessing the success of existing interventions and informing future health policy changes."

More Metals  At Costco - Now You Can Also Buy Platinum
   

   Oddly enough, when I complete this post I will likely have spent as much time writing about Costco as shopping there. Although they are getting out of the book business (see:"More Bad News For Books"), you can find on their shelves, gold(see: "Gold At Costco!!) and silver (see: "Hi Ho Silver??) to take to your compound when the apocalypse arrives. You will have food that lasts years if you have also purchased "Readywise, Costco's Emergency Food Kit" (see: "Evidence of End Times at Costco?".)
   "The sales of silver and gold are going well and now Costco is offering bars of platinum. The Costco website lists the item as a one-ounce (roughly 28.3 grams) 999.5 pure platinum bar “with a proof-like finish.”  The bars bear the image of Lady Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck and good fortune – an image also on some of Costco’s gold bars. Customers will need a Costco membership to buy these bars. Unlike most other products available at Costco, however, you can’t buy this one in bulk. There is a limit of one transaction per membership, with a maximum of five units per member. The bars are also non-refundable."
For more see: "Platinum Rush? Costco Is Selling a New Precious Metal in the U.S." Uday, Rana, Global News, Oct. 4, 2024.

BOOZE At Costco For Ontarians
  While platinum is not yet available to us, we can now purchase, beer, wine, champagne and some 'soft' mixed cocktails at Costco, but not the hard stuff. For that, we will still have to go to the LCBO, but it is not yet clear what we do with all of the empty containers. See: "Ontario's 41 Costco Locations Can Sell Alcohol As Of Oct. 31, 2024," CBC News, Oct. 30, 2024. 

Happy Thanksgiving to Those In the U.S. 
   You have a lot to be thankful for - platinum at Costco, for example. Eat that turkey, but begin a diet in the new year.

Evidence Of End Times at Costco?

    It is accidental that I have covered Costco in three posts over recent months. In one, I called to your attention the fact that Costco was going to stop selling books and, in the others, that the company was now purveying both gold and silver (the links to those subjects are provided in that sentence.) Costco is again a topic because the company we all associate with abundance is now selling something that will be useful when we are dealing with scarcity. 

   The new product can be loosely described as "food" and more closely as "meals ready to eat" (MREs.) This chow is constituted in such a way that it will last during the long lean years that may soon arrive. The good news is, I suppose, that Costco shoppers can also become preppers without much effort. The bad is that apparently the food does not taste very good. 

   I know about this and am again writing about Costco because of this article: "Costco's Emergency Food Kit Makes Us Dread the Apocalypse Even More: The Buckets Sold at Costco Include Just-add-water Packets That Are Supposed to be Edible For 25 Years - They're Not Good," Emily Hall, Washington Post, August 9. 2024. Although the article is helpful and you learn, from just the title that the meals are not delicious, she does not let us know where we can get the water when the time comes.

Be Prepared
   If you are not a prepper type, or eschatologically inclined, you may pooh-pooh the notion that a backup larder of food is something for which you should start shopping. On the other hand, without an actual Armageddon or apocalypse there are reasons to believe that food could suddenly become scarce and, chances are, you don't know how to grow a turnip.
  There was, for example, the "Northeast Blackout of 2003", and although it only lasted for hours, it seemed like Armageddon since the food in the freezer was starting to melt and we couldn't access our electronic devices to find out how to start growing turnips.
   That the power could suddenly go off and stay off for quite a while was the subject of another recent article which made more resonant the Costco one and it doesn't mention climate changes or earthquakes either of which could leave us hungry and in the dark. The power could go off on purpose and because of people. In short, "Why White Supremacists Are Trying to Attack Energy Grids," Sara Ruberg, The New York Times, Aug. 8, 2024. (By the way, they are not the only ones.)

CANCON

   It is only mildly reassuring that, like most of the food we eat, we will be able to buy MREs from somewhere else. I didn't go to Costco to check the shelves, but it appears that the container pictured above is available to order online. If you think the neighbours or other family members might come foraging, larger quantities are available from other suppliers. For example: 

  Or, if you are among the growing numbers of Canadians who no longer want to work and think the government should feed them, then let your local government representative know that bulk quantities of MREs are available for purchase.

Sources: 

   The bulk order above is available from Total Prepare Inc. Canada. 

   See also: Survival Food: "Canada's Survival Food Experts."
   Or shop locally at: "Forest City Surplus Canada."

"Making Light of Heavy Things Since 2016"

More Bad News For Books

 

COSTCO & Books
   I never really thought of Costco as a place to buy books, but I had also not considered buying gold or silver from a Costco store. I think I have seen books stacked on tables at the local one, but according to a recent article they may become a scarce commodity at Costco. A first reaction may be, "Who Cares?", but a more reasoned one might be, "Holy Cow!" Costco as a customer purchases thousands of books.
   Here is the article and while it refers to the United States, I would think the same decision would be made for the Canadian Costcos.
"Costco Plans to Stop Selling Books Year-Round: The Decision, Which Will Be Implemented in January 2025, Could Significantly Impact Publishers," Elizabeth A. Harris and Alexandra Alter, New York Times, June  5, 2024.

   Beginning in January 2025, the company will stop stocking books regularly, and will instead sell them only during the holiday shopping period, from September through December. During the rest of the year, some books may be sold at Costco stores from time to time, but not in a consistent manner, according to the executives, who spoke anonymously in order to discuss a confidential business matter that has not yet been publicly announced.
   Costco’s shift away from books came largely because of the labor required to stock books, the executives said. Copies have to be laid out by hand, rather than just rolled out on a pallet as other products often are at Costco. The constant turnaround of books — new ones come out every Tuesday and the ones that have not sold need to be returned — also created more work....
   The decision could be a significant setback for publishers at a moment when the industry is facing stagnant print sales and publishing houses are struggling to find ways to reach customers who have migrated online. 
   While Costco isn’t as critical a retail outlet as bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble, it has provided a way for people who might not otherwise seek out books to see them and perhaps grab a new thriller or a cookbook while shopping for socks and paper towels. Shoppers could also browse books at Costco in a way that is difficult to do online.
   Robert Gottlieb, a literary agent and chairman at Trident Media Group, said he’d spoken about the changes at Costco to a number of publishers who were alarmed by the potential blow to sales.
“Costco across the country was a big outlet for books,” he said. “There are now fewer and fewer places to buy books in a retail environment.”
   The change may also impact Costco customers, particularly those who live in areas without a bookstore. And because many books at Costco were impulse buys, some of those sales may not shift over to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Instead, they might not happen at all.


Additional Bad Book News from Ukraine

All of the news from this area has been bad, but this may be overlooked, given the tremendous loss of lives.
   "On May 23, Russian missiles struck the Factor Druk printing house in Kharkiv, Ukraine (story). Seven people were reportedly killed and more than 40 injured. In addition, some 50,000 books and 60 tons of paper were burned....
  Factor Druk was surely not a random target. Vladimir Putin has been determined to obliterate Ukrainian culture even before he began his barbaric invasion in early 2022. Unfortunately, this spring, Putin’s buddies in Congress were able to slow U.S. aid long enough to give Russia a major advantage.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement saying that the attack on the Factor Druk printing house “demonstrates that Russia is waging war against humanity and all aspects of normal life.”
[The source for this is Ron Charles, "Book Club" newsletter from the Washington Post, June, 7.]

CANCON
   If Costco needs to store their excess books in freezers, they should have good ones:
"NDP Leader Slams Liberals For Giving Nearly $26-Million to Costco, Loblaw in Recent Years," Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, May 9, 2024. 

"The money came from the Liberal government’s low-carbon economy fund, which is meant to support projects that will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.In 2019, the Liberals faced heat from Conservatives after the government announced it was giving up to $12 million to Loblaw for energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers at 370 of its stores. Newly released data from Environment and Climate Change Canada show Costco was also given more than $15 million for efforts to reduce emissions, including new fridges.
Loblaw was ultimately given more than $10 million.
The payments were made to the two grocery chains between 2019 and 2023."

Hi Ho Silver !!

Silver Bars Along With Chocolate Ones at COSTCO 
   I don't usually read the commercial emails received continuously, but I was curious about what "Treasure" might now be found at Costco. It turns out it is SILVER. At the end of 2023 I noticed that they also carry GOLD and I don't have much to add to, "GOLD AT COSTCO", where I confessed an ignorance about 'investing' and financial matters generally.

  I can understand that Costco attempts to lure customers to return by offering "Treasure," but I am not sure that silver is, although it might be more valuable than crypto. Still, I thought I should call it to your attention. I know that a silver bar will last longer than a chocolate one and perhaps is a better hedge against inflation. While the prices for most things seem only to go up, however, the value of gold and silver sometimes goes in the other direction. I see in my "Gold Post" that the 1oz. of gold was going for $2,679.99 at Costco back in December, so you should check and see what it is worth now, before you buy some silver bars. Also in that post you will learn about the expression, "Going to Hell in a Handbasket," which may be relevant. 

GOLD AT COSTCO !!

 Feeling Bearish?
   My initial thought was, "This Can't Be Good!" Not wishing to present bad news at this time of year and not qualified to offer investment advice, I was reluctant to post this. It is, however, my fiduciary duty to do so and I call to your attention two CBC articles you may have missed.
   It is also the case that this post can be interpreted  as "good news", since the price of gold is going up. And, you can buy it at COSTCO! Relax and enjoy the new year celebration.
   About a matter such as this, it is better to go directly to the sources and not rely on MM. Here they are: 
   I just read this one today: "The Gold Rush Is Back --- And Now at a Big-Box Store Near You: Amid Global Instability, Gold Prices Are Soaring and Some Retailers Are Cashing In," Anis Heydari, CBC News, Dec. 30, 2023.
   "Warehouse stores in Canada aren't just selling large quantities of toilet paper these days — gold bars and coins and other precious metals are moving out of the realm of banking and jewellers and into their aisles....
   According to Costco's chief financial officer, Richard Galanti, the company "sold over $100 million [US] of gold" during a recent 12-week period. Walmart has also started selling gold, silver and platinum bars online to U.S. consumers.Costco didn't respond to requests for comment from CBC News, but officials had previously told investors their gold bars would sell out within hours of being listed online."

  I had missed this earlier one, which is linked in the article above:  "Costco Now Sells Gold Bars. Are They a Good Investment?" Padraig Moran, CBC News, Oct. 3, 2023.

   "Canadians can now buy gold bars at Costco, but one financial expert warns it might be an investment with limited return — unless you're planning to flee the country.

   "Part of [gold's] mystique comes from the ability that it's easy to carry around … you can carry a lot of money in a suitcase if you've got gold," said Will Huggins, an associate professor of finance and economics at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business....

     The 1 oz., 24-carat gold bars are on sale at Costco in Canada for $2,679.99 a piece, with member customers limited to buying a maximum of two bars every seven days. CBS reported last week that Richard Galanti, chief financial officer at Costco, said the bars were selling out within hours every time inventory was added to the company's website."

Finding Gold at Costco
   I googled the Costco website for "gold", for which there were 647 'hits'. One of them is for the gold bar and here are the data about it:

1 oz Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan (New In Assay)

Features:

24-kt yellow gold

1 troy oz (31.1 g)

Item cannot be returned or refunded

This item is not eligible for price adjustments and/or any promotions

Limit of 1 transaction per 7 days (168 hours) per Membership, with a maximum of 2 units

Bar Highlights:

Contains 1 troy oz (31.1 g) of .9999 fine gold.

Tamper-evident assay card makes it easy to determine if the bar has been handled while guaranteeing the gold weight and purity. PAMP Mint places a thin plastic sheeting that safeguards your assay card during shipping.

They will deliver the gold bar, but are sold out right now. To find the current price I had to check into my Costco account, but it would be easier to get into Fort Knox. I assume it is around $2700, but remember, you can only buy two at a time. 

"Going to Hell in a Handbasket"
   As you can see, that expression was used in the article and I wondered about it, although I knew it did not generally imply that things are going well. Here are the introductory words from the very interesting Wikiwand entry. "To Hell in a Handbasket": 
"Going to hell in a handbasket", "going to hell in a handcart", "going to hell in a handbag", "go to hell in a bucket", "sending something to hell in a handbasket" and "something being like hell in a handbasket" are variations on an allegorical locution of unclear origin, which describes a situation headed for disaster inescapably or precipitately.

The Bonus:
   At the end of the wiki essay there is a list of items showing how the term is used in popular culture. The last one is: In the American television sitcom Friends (1994-2004), Helena Handbasket is the drag name of Charles Bing, the gay father of main character Chandler Bing.
   The late Mr. Bing was mentioned recently in MM, in "Schott's and Friends."